Official Reports No Recent Rat Complaints

COOPER CITY — Norwegian roof rats, a variety of vermin that favors fruit trees and garbage, no longer appear to be plaguing residents of the city`s only apartment complex and the homes surrounding it.

``We have received no (recent) complaints,`` City Manager Chris Farrell said.

But a lesson has come of this: Garbage bunkers must be repaired or replaced and homeowners have to clean up dropped fruit from trees, city officials said.

City commissioners tentatively approved an ordinance last week making owners of the apartment complex, in the 5200 block of Southwest 91st Terrace, responsible for properly containing garbage.

Garbage should be stored in metal cans placed inside the concrete bunkers. But many of the bunkers had missing doors or overflowing garbage.

Under the ordinance, the owners will be responsible for bringing the bunkers into compliance with city codes, Farrell said. If there is a shortage of bunkers or containers because of excess garbage, the owner will have to provide more capacity for storage.

Garbage in plastic bags will not be permitted on top of the bunkers. If an owner chooses not to repair bunkers, he will have the option of replacing them with two 30-gallon cans for each unit.